Quick Answer
To work out how to stop squeaky bed noise, first find out whether it comes from the frame, the slats or the mattress. Then tighten every bolt and treat the contact point: a little lubricant on metal joints, wax or soft padding on wood, and a check of the linking bar and drawers on a divan. Worn mattress springs usually mean replacing the mattress.
Key Takeaways
- Rule out the frame before blaming the mattress. Two UK sources we read put loose frame fixings and joints at the top of the list, and a worn mattress spring is usually the last thing to confirm.
- The material decides the fix. Metal joints are the ones sources agree can take lubricant, wooden joints are usually waxed or padded, and divans have their own checks (linking bar, drawers, base).
- Fixes can wear off. One UK bed retailer says lubricant on a metal frame may only be a temporary fix, and wax on wood may need reapplying.
A bed that squeaks every time someone turns over is rarely a sign of anything serious. It is usually two surfaces rubbing, a fixing that has worked loose, or a spring that has had its day. The trick is to stop guessing and track the noise down before you reach for a spanner or a spray.
Find the source of the squeak
How to find exactly where a bed is squeaking
Start by working out which part is making the noise, because tightening bolts will not help if the problem is a mattress spring. Expert Reviews suggests deciding first whether the frame or the mattress is responsible: check the frame’s fixings, and if they are all secure, the mattress is the likely culprit.
A simple sequence works for most beds:
- Strip the bed back. Take off the bedding so you can hear and see more clearly. This step is our own suggestion rather than something a source specifies.
- Ask someone to move around on the bed, or move slowly across it yourself, and listen for the spot. Archers Sleep Centre and Bob Vila both suggest this.
- Lift the mattress off and press different areas of it. Bensons for Beds says to do this to test an older mattress, and Archers suggests pressing sections of the mattress separately once it is away from the base.
- Check the floor and the walls. Bensons says a loose or damaged floorboard can be the source, and Expert Reviews points to friction where the frame touches the floor or a wall.
If you can, mark each suspect spot with a small piece of masking tape as you go (again, our suggestion). It saves you re-finding it with a spanner in your hand.
| Where the noise seems to come from | Likely cause according to the sources | Where to look next |
| Corners or joints of the frame | Loose bolts or fixings, or metal or wood rubbing at a joint | Tightening bolts, then wooden or metal frame sections |
| Under the mattress | Slats that are loose, cracked or rubbing, or a base that has been damaged | Divan and slatted bases |
| Inside the mattress | Worn or faulty springs | Replacement or an upholsterer, as described at the end |
| Against a wall or the floor | Friction at the feet or headboard, or a loose board | Pads on the feet, then moving the bed |
Tightening bolts
Loose fixings are the first thing to check. Expert Reviews says the most common source of squeaking is the bed frame, and its main fix is to tighten all nuts and bolts, working around the whole frame. Archers suggests a spanner or screwdriver, and Tom’s Guide suggests a screwdriver or Allen key, snug but not overtightened.
Take the mattress off first so you can reach every fixing, including those at the headboard, the footboard and the centre rail if there is one. Work round in a loop so you do not miss one, then sit on the bed and listen again.
If a bolt will not stay tight, Bob Vila suggests adding a washer between the frame and the bolt. Bensons also says to make sure washers or gaskets are fitted on metal frames.
Squeaky bed joints tightening didn’t work: what to try next
If everything is tight and the bed still squeaks, the fixings were probably not the whole story. These are the usual next suspects, all from the sources above:
- Friction at a joint that is tight but still rubbing. Bensons says metal on metal rubbing can make an extremely annoying sound, and that wooden frames can squeak from loose joints, a poorly fitted headboard or damaged slats. Wax or padding (covered below) addresses rubbing that tightening cannot.
- The slats. Archers lists old or damaged slats among the causes, and Hunker says sagging or cracked slats should be replaced.
- The floor. Bensons says a twisted frame on an uneven floor can strain the joints and suggests moving the bed to a level spot. Tom’s Guide suggests packing under the legs with wood or cardboard if the frame does not sit evenly.
- The mattress. If the frame is quiet when you test it without the mattress, the springs are the likelier cause.
We found no source that covers repairing a bolt hole that has worn oversize or a stripped thread. If that is your problem, the bed’s manufacturer or a carpenter is the safer route.
IKEA bed frame squeak fix: what the sources say
We could not find IKEA UK guidance on squeaky beds. The IKEA UK pages we opened had no care advice about retightening fixings, so we cannot point you to an official IKEA method. Our reasoning is that a flat-pack frame held together with bolts or screws behaves like any other bolted frame, so the checks above apply: go round every fixing with the tool supplied or a matching one, and look at the slats. Follow the assembly instructions that came with your model for the correct fixings and order.
Wooden frames
Bensons for Beds says loose joints are the most common cause on a wooden frame. Its checklist is to tighten the joints, check that the headboard is fitted firmly and is the correct size, and inspect the slats for breakage or displacement.
How to stop a wooden bed from squeaking
After tightening, the remaining noise is usually wood rubbing on wood. The fixes in the sources we read are about reducing that friction:
- Rub wax on the contact points. Hunker says to wax the spots where the pieces rub together, and a candle works: rub it over the points to build a layer. Bob Vila gives the same advice and says several coats may be needed.
- Add something soft. Bob Vila suggests small pieces of cork between the mattress and the frame, or around the pegs, and felt tape where the stringers rub the headboard and footboard. Archers suggests felt pads, rubber washers or fabric strips at slats, joints and where the frame touches a wall or floor.
- Reapply as needed. Hunker notes that you may need to reapply wax occasionally.
How to lubricate a squeaky wooden bed frame
The sources do not agree on lubricant for wood, so we are reporting the disagreement rather than picking a winner. Bob Vila says to skip lubricants on a wooden frame. Tom’s Guide says to apply a lubricant such as WD-40 to joints and moving parts, and suggests beeswax for wooden frames. A Hunker guide on wooden frames says to remove the screws and spray with a lubricant, without naming a product, and to use talcum powder or wax where wood rubs on wood.
Our reading is that wax, soap or padding is the lower-risk place to start on bare or finished wood. We found no source that tests oil sprays on wooden finishes, so if you do use one, try a hidden spot first and wipe away the excess, as Archers advises for metal frames, so that it does not stain. Keep any spray off the mattress and bedding.
Beeswax for squeaky wooden bed frames
Tom’s Guide suggests rubbing beeswax or soap on wooden joints, and the Hunker wooden frame guide suggests coating the screws with hard soap or beeswax before putting them back. The other wax advice we found (Hunker on slat beds, Bob Vila) refers to a wax candle, and none of the sources compares the options. We have not tested any of them, so treat beeswax and plain candle wax as two similar options rather than one being proven better.
Metal frames
Why a metal bed frame squeaks at joints
Bensons for Beds puts it plainly: metal rubbing on metal makes a loud, irritating noise. Its advice is to tighten all fixings, make sure washers or gaskets are fitted and lubricate the joints. It adds that frames with rubber gaskets are designed to stop metal touching metal, and that lubricant may only be a temporary fix.
How to stop metal bed frame squeaking
Putting the sources together, the order is:
- Tighten every fixing, working round the frame.
- Check that washers or gaskets are present and in the right place.
- Lubricate the joint. Expert Reviews says a few drops of oil on metal-on-metal contact points will do, without naming a product. Archers names WD-40 or a silicone-based spray and says to wipe away any excess to avoid staining. Bob Vila names WD-40 and says vegetable oil is a substitute, but only for a metal frame.
- Add furniture pads on the feet or on any part touching a wall, as Expert Reviews suggests.
Can you use wd40 on a squeaky bed?
On a metal frame, yes, according to three sources: Tom’s Guide, Archers and Bob Vila all name WD-40 for joints, and Bob Vila says it works only if the frame is metal. Archers also lists a silicone-based spray. Wipe off the excess, keep spray away from the mattress and bedding, and read the label on the can for safe use. For wood, the advice is mixed, as set out above.
Divan and slatted bases
How to stop a divan bed from squeaking
Most of the specific divan advice we found comes from Bensons for Beds. Its checks are:
- Make sure the two sections of the base are joined with a linking bar or hook, because loose sections can knock together.
- Check the drawers, their runners and any ottoman opening.
- Take the mattress off and inspect the base. Bensons says broken parts of the bed may show as dips in the base, in which case the base may need replacing.
Some of the other guides we read are written for a US box spring, which is not the same thing as a UK divan base. Tom’s Guide suggests checking a box spring for loose or broken springs, and Bob Vila suggests oiling the springs through a small hole cut in the fabric. We found no UK manufacturer guidance that endorses cutting into a divan base, so check with the maker before doing anything like that.
Slatted bases
Slats are a common source on slatted frames. Archers says to reposition or replace misaligned, cracked or loose slats, and that double-sided tape or rubber strips can help secure them. Bob Vila suggests lining each slat with old socks, a sheet or an old T-shirt, and Tom’s Guide suggests socks or towels between the slats and the frame, or a thin sheet of plywood under the mattress to add firmness. Hunker lists socks, towels, foam or cork as padding, and again says to replace sagging or cracked slats.
How to stop a bunk bed from making noise
A bunk bed squeaks for the same reasons as any other frame, but it carries a child on the top bunk, so take more care. We found no source that gives bunk-specific squeak advice, so what follows is our own cautious reading, not tested guidance.
- Follow the assembly instructions for the fixings and their order. A Bensons for Beds bunk bed safety article says skipping steps could leave the bed structurally unsound. It also says bunk beds should conform to BS EN 747, citing the 1993 edition, which we have not verified as current.
- Tightening the existing fixings with the correct tool is the lowest-risk step. We would not drill, swap fixings or add lubricant to the parts that hold the bed together, and we found no source that says whether that is safe.
- Keep padding thin. The same Bensons article lists a secure mattress fit and guardrails on the top bunk among the safety points, so avoid anything that raises the mattress or stops it sitting snugly.
- If a fixing is cracked, will not stay tight or the frame moves noticeably, stop using the top bunk and contact the manufacturer.
When the mattress is the problem
If the frame is quiet when you test it and the noise follows the mattress, there are a few options, but sources are blunt that they may not work. Expert Reviews says a worn or faulty pocket-sprung spring is the likely cause and repair needs a skilled upholsterer, and that replacement may be the most cost-effective option. Bensons says replacement is the only sure-fire fix for worn springs and recommends replacing mattresses every seven years or sooner. That figure is the retailer’s own guidance, not an independent standard.
Smaller things can help with noise from the mattress side. Tom’s Guide suggests rotating the mattress 180 degrees (check your mattress care label first, as not all mattresses are designed to be turned) and trying a mattress topper, which it says can absorb some noise from springs or slats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use wd40 on a squeaky bed?
Yes, on a metal frame, according to Tom’s Guide, Archers and Bob Vila. Spray the joints, wipe off the excess and keep it away from the mattress and bedding. Bob Vila says to skip lubricants on wood and use wax or padding instead. Read the product label before use.
Why is my bed still squeaking after I tightened everything?
The noise may come from rubbing rather than looseness, or from slats, the floor or the mattress. Try wax or padding at wooden joints, lubricant at metal ones, and test the frame without the mattress to see whether the springs are the source.
How can I tell whether the frame or the mattress is squeaking?
Take the mattress off and press different areas of it, then move on the bare frame and listen. If the frame is quiet and the mattress is not, the springs are the likely cause. Expert Reviews says to check the frame’s fixings first.
What makes a divan bed squeak?
Bensons for Beds names loose sections that knock together, drawers and their runners, an ottoman opening, and a damaged base. It suggests checking the linking bar or hook, then removing the mattress to look for dips that show broken parts.
Is it safe to fix a squeaky bunk bed myself?
Tightening the existing fixings with the right tool is the cautious step. We would not drill, swap fixings or lubricate structural parts, and we found no source on that. If a fixing is cracked or will not hold, stop using the top bunk and contact the manufacturer.
When should I replace a squeaky mattress?
When the frame has been ruled out and the springs are the source. Expert Reviews says repair needs a skilled upholsterer and replacement may be more cost-effective. Bensons says replacement is the only sure-fire fix and recommends changing mattresses every seven years or sooner.
